Remembering Worth

I didn’t remember my worthiness until I was 36. I say ‘remember’ intentionally. I didn’t develop it. Or grow it. Or accomplish it like a goal.

I had just forgotten. I forgot when magazines, TV and social media told me I was not quite enough (good enough, pretty enough, smart enough, sexy enough, successful enough, loved enough . . . ). I forgot when authority figures criticized me. I forgot when love was given conditionally.

I learned to believe that I had to earn my self-worth through striving, doing, pleasing, accomplishing, always saying yes, not listening to my own needs. Without even realizing it, I made all of these messages and experiences mean that I didn’t deserve kindness, love, respect and big dreams.

I didn’t realize that I was living from low self-worth, however. I realize it now: I got into (and stayed in) unhealthy relationships. I people-pleased all the time because I believed that that was the only way I could be loved. I believed my value as a human was directly related to how happy people were with me.

Worthiness is–and has always been–inherent. I know that now. I was born worthy, just as every human is. No baby questions their worth. No infant questions if they are ‘good enough.’

We are just taught to forget what we’ve always been: enough.

It’s still a journey for me (I’m learning that remembering my worth is a practice, as most things in life are).

However, the emotional freedom that I experience when I practice worthiness is profound. I listen to my own needs, I take care of myself, I focus on myself rather than comparing myself to others or trying to change people around me. I set kind boundaries and stick to them. I take risks in my life and business because I know that no failure can change the fact that I’m always enough.

My vision is for every woman to know how worthy, badass and extraordinary she is.